The Croatian Showcase will feature Bonaca & Ruze Dalmatinke, Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, Radost Folk Ensemble, Dave and the Dalmatians, and Gradec Croatian Tamburica Orchestra.
Bonaca specializes in traditional & popular Croatian and Bosnian folk music featuring various vocal and musical styles. From the stringent open throat style of interior Croatia, to lyrical Dalmatian and Bosnian melodies, this haunting and joyful music is presented in a variety of musical combinations representing historical eras and both western and eastern influences.
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, founded in 1975, perform music and dance of Croatia. Anacortes, WA, located on Fidalgo Island, is home to VLCDE. One-quarter of the residents of this unique community are descended from immigrants from another fishing village: Vela Luka, on the Island of Korčula, Croatia. The performers in Vela Luka represent four generations of Croatian Americans who have introduced their culture’s extraordinary choreography, music, and instruments to people all over the world. Forming a cross-cultural link between the Puget Sound region and Croatia, the company strives to preserve Croatian folkways and culture for generations to come. (http://www.velaluka.org)
Radost has been presenting the traditions and folklore of the Balkans and Eastern Europe since 1976, and passing on the love of folk music and dance to the next generation. (http://www.radost.org)
Dave and the Dalmatians is nearing 20 years together. We sing acappella music from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, Italy, Bosnia, Serbia, Corsica and beyond. For more information about what we do, please visit us on the web. (http://www.daveandthedalmatians.com)
Gradec Croatian Tamburica Orchestra has been performing since 1980. In 1989 the orchestra and dancers toured Croatia and played in many of the villages where the music had originated. It was beautiful to see the elders of these villages watch the performance of their traditions in the costumes they had sewn and embroidered with their own hands. When war broke out in 1992, Gradec was there again, playing at refugee camps and rehabilitation centres, helping people forget their plight if only momentarily through the escape of music and song.Over the last few decades, the group has performed at many community events and old age homes. Recently, Gradec performed as part of the Discover B.C.
